The Magic Ring and the Buddy Bar

By Bruce Dorn | May 8, 2008 - 11:54am

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Sorta sounds like a weird children’s book but it isn’t. It’s really two new tools that I have developed for my own gadget bag. The Buddy Bar is a black-anodized aluminum bar that is just right for ganging up small lighting instruments. The Magic Ring is a piece I designed to allow easy softbox rotation with any plate in the iDC Slipper line. The Magic Ring is available as part of several kits but also "a la carte. " iDC is the only site that offers the Magic Ring as an addition for existing owners of our handy Slipper line-up. The Magic Ring is fully backward compatible!

Offered as a versatile alternative to the Missing Link and Chimera softbox ring, the Magic Ring offers easy rotation of any compatible softbox without the need to disassemble the springy softbox rods. Simply loosen the wing-nut, rotate, and lock! The Magic Ring has the Missing Link riser permanently attached to the ring assembly so it does not break down into two pieces as does the Missing Link and Chimera ring version. The original combo will still appeal to those seeking the smallest possible profile for compact packing but the new Magic Ring is a great solution for the studio or anyone routinely using the Asymmetrical Stripbank in both the vertical and horizontal orientations.

I find both versions to be indispensable. Check out these shots of the Magic Ring mounted on the itty-bitty Baby Slipper. It’s the perfect combo to turn your Radio Popper-equipped speedlite into a full-blown, pro-quality lighting instrument - in the studio or on location.

Look for this exciting new product in our webstore very soon. They’re in stock and ready to ship!

The Buddy Bar is a simple bracket I had machined to allow the easy mounting of dual speedlites, tungsten Sun-Guns, or LED Micro Lights. I have adapted one to work with my Sony Video HD camera but the main application is for lightstand mounting. I show it here in various configurations to inspire your own Big Ideas.

I also like the idea of using both a continuous light source and a speedlite side-by-side; the LED output is too modest to be of much value as a modeling light but it would allow a touch of ambient light "sweetening" where a speedlite might be too distracting or too bright.

The Buddy Bar offers an excellent way to double your light level by simply adding a second speedlite. I’m using it here with the clever new Radio Poppers but it works equally well with the line-of-sight proprietary wireless protocols or matched with the always-popular Pocket Wizards….